Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2021 i Salt Water Sportsman

In Texas this past February, a massive wave of frigid air crept our way for a week. Watching the nightly news was like standing on railroad tracks and seeing a dim light in the distance get bigger, brighter and closer—but we couldn’t get out of its way. Then it hit, creeping sluggishly and with vicious indiscretion down every inch of Texas’ 801-mile length. As it crossed the coast, from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande, it carried deep-freeze temperatures into the water. Shallow bays froze, along with whatever fish didn’t manage to make it to deeper sanctuary. Texas’ worst winter storm in 32 years left darkness in its path, literally and figuratively. When the lights came on and the sun came out, coastal fishermen rushed to assess the damage.…

Kaylee Boatwright took advantage of good weather between Christmas and New Year’s, and spent a morning catching bonnethead sharks off Lido Beach in Sarasota, Florida, then ventured into the Gulf. At the first stop, she dropped her shrimp to the bottom, reeled up to make a longer cast, and set the hook on this 31-inch redfish. YOUR CATCH To send in your catch photo, email us at catches@saltwatersportsman.com. Got a piece of good news to share? Want to gripe? Like to see your thoughts on the pages of Salt Water Sportsman? Send your letters, manuscripts and any relevant comments to editor@saltwatersportsman.com or via U.S. mail: SWS Editor, 480 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 236, Winter Park, FL32789. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed but will not be acknowledged or returned unless accompanied by…

It has been a while since I have written about this fish. Even though they are dwindling in numbers, they are still one of the most sought-after species. During my lifetime, they have seen all-time lows and all-time highs. Striped bass are without question an iconic species for the recreational fishing community and found in some form in almost every state. As I write this, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is putting together the Public Information Document (PID) for Amendment 7 to the Striped Bass Plan. This will begin the process of trying to figure out management As I write this, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is putting together the Public Information Document (PID) for Amendment 7 to the Striped Bass Plan. This will begin the process of…

The most memorable VHF conversation I’ve had was some 30 years ago, with a captain off the coast of Southern California, after overhearing his chatter about striped marlin jumping just about everywhere he looked. He was hunting for swordfish and didn’t bother with the marlin. I, however, had a guest from Penn Reels on my boat and was feeling pressure to produce. So, I hailed the harpooner. Skipper, where are you seeing those fish?” I asked. “About a mile southeast of the bank,” he crackled back. “Get here fast.” We high-tailed it to the hotspot and, within minutes of dropping lines, were hooked up with one of the three marlin we went on to release that August day. My friend from Penn was ecstatic. Radio Fish Though some skippers consider…

BOSTON WHALER 220 DAUNTLESS While the most compact in Whaler’s Dauntless lineup, the 220 offers the expected versatility, and combines inshore fishing capability with off shore cruising confidence. More than a bay boat, the 220 provides spacious comfort, a smooth ride, performance for cruising, and easy access to the water for both fishing and watersports. The forward double lounge sits over lockable storage with room for 7-foot rods. Fold-up stern seating provides additional room in the flush stern deck. Leaning-post options include a reversible pilot seat, integrated cooler, and upgraded seating and livewell configurations. Options include a trolling motor and Fusion stereo. LENGTH: 22' BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 15" WEIGHT: 3,040 lb. FUEL: 80 gal. MAX HP: 250 PRICE: $83,575 bostonwhaler.com ALBEMARLE 30 EXPRESS LENGTH: 30'10" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 26" WEIGHT:…

ABUNDANCE Steady salmon runs through the summer provide reliable action. VARIETY Four species of salmon, rockfish and halibut keep things interesting. CHOICE Anglers may opt for lodge-based or fly-in fishing. THE SPOON HIT THE WATER NEAR THE MOUTH OF A STREAM RUNNING INTO THE BAY AND WAS IMMEDIATELY SNAPPED UP BY A LARGE PINK SALMON. IT RAN HARD FOR THE OPEN WATER, PULLING DRAG OFF THE LIGHT SPINNING OUTFIT, PUNCTUATING THE RUN WITH AN INSPIRED LEAP FOR THE SKY. The action was fast and furious as our small group hooked one fish after another, keeping the mate running around the boat net in hand. Orca Adventure Lodge owner Steve Ranney had run Storm Prince, a 42-foot catamaran, into Sheep Bay in Prince William Sound. The original plan was to beach…

The uncustomary blast of cold weather that swept through the southern US in mid-February not only caused untold hardship on the people of Texas, but the freezing temperatures also dealt a lethal blow to coastal fisheries. From Brownsville in the south to Port Arthur on the Texas-Louisiana border, significant fish kills were reported in most major bay areas, including Laguna Madre, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay, Aransas Bay, Corpus Christi Bay and Sabine Lake. Most heavily impacted were waters south of Galveston Bay. At one point during the severe, weeklong event, Galveston reported a low temperature of 20 degrees. Initial surveys by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimate the freeze killed some 3.8 million fish, comprising 61 species, 90 percent of which were forage fish like silver…

NOAA Fisheries announced the closing of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category for the Southern Area Trophy Fishery after the subquota for “trophy” bluefin tuna (73 inches or greater) was reached and exceeded. Imposed on March 1, 2021, the closure will last for the remainder of the year, ending on December 31, and is in line with closures of the previous two years, which took place on March 14, 2019, and February 20, 2020. The Southern Area Trophy Fishery includes the Atlantic area south of 39° 18' N latitude (off Great Egg Inlet, New Jersey), and does not include waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where all bluefin targeting is illegal due to the importance of the region as spawning grounds. The Angling Category includes anglers fishing recreationally aboard vessels…

Leo Forte 6, Washington, D.C. Part of a fishing team made up of his dad, grandpa and himself, Leo is an old hand at jigging in his home waters of Chesapeake Bay. That’s where he and his teammates were on Thanksgiving, when he landed this nice striper. Jealousy Sprehn 7, Arizona Fishing the Florida Keys from the reefs to the flats, Jealousy often shows her competitive spirit. This mangrove snapper was her first catch in the Lorelei Restaurant fishing tournament in Islamorada. Jaxen Albright 6, Virginia A regular on his neighborhood’s public dock, Jaxen is serious about adding species to his catch list. He caught his first speckled trout during an incoming tide while fishing a chartreuse Gulp! tail rigged on an orange jig head. NOMINATE A KID: SWS recognizes kids…

LENGTH: 31'7" BEAM: 10'4" DRAFT: 19" DEADRISE: 18 degrees FUEL: 276 gal. WATER: 20 gal. WEIGHT: 9,800 lb. (w/power) MAX HP: 700 PRICE: $285,000 w/twin Yamaha F300s STAMAS YACHTS: stamas.com WITH A FOCUS ON STRENGTH, DURABILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY ROOTED IN ITS HERITAGE, THE EVOLUTION OF STAMAS’ DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION HAS KEPT IT AMONG THE HERALDED BRANDS. AND BASED ON ITS POPULAR TARPON SERIES, THE LATEST MODEL, THE 31T AVENTURA, CHECKS ALL THE BOXES TO QUICKLY BECOME A FAVORITE. The triangular space at the bow, level with the covering boards, serves as an elevated platform, perfect for cast-netting bait. There are two hatches on it, one to the anchor locker and windlass system, and a smaller one to access auxiliary anchor storage. Removable backrests to port and starboard that permit lounging…

When experienced fishermen recount dumb things for this space, they sometimes ask to remain unnamed. This is one of those times. Over winter, a friend with more than a decade of experience in a Gulf Coast bay system met his clients at dawn and launched from a familiar ramp. Forecasts called for a third consecutive day of north wind, and for the wind to be stronger than the two past days. For nearly a week, this guide had fished the same oyster-shell reef at varying times of day, and always boxed ample fish to satisfy his anglers. As they idled away from the ramp, the tide was officially nearing the end of incoming, and it was scheduled to remain that way for a bit. Water was a couple of inches…

ACCORDING TO A UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA STUDY REPORTED in Aquatic Toxicology, nearly 100 percent of the red snapper sampled in the Gulf of Mexico over a six-year period showed evidence of liver damage, and oil is to blame. Between 2011 to 2017, in the wake of the 2010 BP oil spill, researchers sampled nearly 570 fish from 72 locations, looking specifically for the most toxic component of crude oil called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs), derived from sources such as old oil and gas rigs, fuel from boats and airplanes, and natural oil seeps from fractures in the seafloor that can spew millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf per year. They found concentration of crude oil in the digestive system—the liver, gall bladder and bile—of fish, with…

1 Sea Falcon Plugs Available as the Diving Pencil Bait or Popper, Sea Falcon lures for tuna, dolphin and stripers carry through-wired Gamakatsu hooks in a lead-weighted balsa core under 20 coats of clear resin for durability, in various colors. $72.30; seafalconusa.com 2 Daiwa BG MQ The latest improvement on Daiwa’s legendary BG reels, the BG MQ Spinning Reel Family boasts a one-piece monocoque, distortion-proof and watertight aluminum body. Ten different models, from the BGMQ2500D-H sized for speckled trout to the BGMQ20000 built to take a beating from giant bluefin tuna, feature gears 20 to 40 percent larger than earlier versions. $199.99 to $279.99; daiwa.com 3 Simms CX The CX Jacket from Simms Fishing features a three-layer proprietary stretch fabric designed for fishing through torrential downpours and rough weather. A…

Ever wonder why some anglers excel at fishing wrecks while your success seems to be a hit-or-miss proposition? The way you anchor your boat could be a major reason. It’s not only where you drop anchor, but also the type of anchor you use, how much chain you have on it, and how much rode (anchor line) you put out, says Capt. Chris Lemieux of Boynton Beach, Florida. He adds that where and how you anchor affect the presentation of your chum and baits, and also determine whether you lose fish to the wreck or safely get them to your boat. Anchor Choices Lemieux catches everything from sailfish and kingfish to wahoo, dolphin and swordfish in South Florida waters, but he specializes in fishing artificial reefs and wrecks in 50…

Capt. Joe Gonzalez was first to eye a single cruiser. Time froze as he placed a bait in the bonefish’s path, and I even held my breath for fear of scaring the fish. The gray shadow slowly proceeded in the same direction, but suddenly the fish tensed up and charged the bait. As Gonzalez came tight, the hooked bonefish vanished in an explosion of water and a cloud of marl. It was now OK to resume breathing. Gonzalez masterfully played the fish alongside the boat. I removed the hook, snapped a few quick pictures, and set it free. Measuring 27 inches to the fork, the plump fish was a solid 9-pounder, a classic representation of a Biscayne Bay bonefish. Nationally Acclaimed As a Miami native, I can attest to the…

LENGTH: 26'6" BEAM: 9'6" DRAFT: 15" FUEL: 97 gal. WEIGHT: 5,073 lb. MAX HP: 400 PRICE: $125,751 (base) PARKER BOATS: parkerboats.com STRENGTH, SIMPLICITY AND SEAWORTHINESS ARE THE CHANNEL MARKERS OF PARKER BOATS’ SUCCESS, AND THE 26 SH (SPORT HYBRID) IS THE LATEST MODEL TO RUN THAT COURSE. THE BOATBUILDER’S LEGACY GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE LATE 1960S, AND THE NEW 26-FOOTER HAS EVERYTHING THE VINTAGE PARKER CENTER-CONSOLES HAD TO OFFER AND MORE. In boating, we often talk performance, but Parker focuses on seaworthiness, and performance is a part of it. A good, stable ride comes from a solid, true hull with crisp lines, a well-defined keel and chines, and a deadrise to match the application. The construction must be solid and substantial, and Parker accomplishes that with a…